Book trimming machine

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a machine for performing trimming operations upon the front and side edges of a book as the book continues to advance through the machine. The machine includes a front edge trimming table which is reciprocated in a horizontal direction and receives a book from an infeed conveyor as the table moves in the direction of the conveyor. As the table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the table and the front edge of the book is trimmed. The machine further includes a side edge trimming table which is reciprocated in synchronism but substantially out of phase with the front edge trimming table. As the front edge table completes its motion in the direction of the infeed conveyor and as the side edge table is about to move in the same direction, the book having its front edge trimmed is advanced onto the side edge table. As the side edge table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the side edge table and the side edges of the book are trimmed. Toward the end of the forward motion of the side edge table, the book is released to a conveyor which advances it from the machine.

United States Patent [191 Bryson et al.

.1. 3,733,947 [4 1 May 22,1973

[54] BOOK TRIMMING MACHINE [73] Assignee: Harris-lntertype Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Aug. 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 66,848

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 737,969, June 18, 1968, Pat. No.

Corporation,

[52] US. Cl ..83/280, 83/925 A, 214/1.6

[51] 'Int.'C1...-. ..B65h 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..214/1.5-l.7; 198/76, 106; 83/280 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,327 7/1953 l'lildmann ..198/106 X 3,122,041 2/1964 Kile et al.

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner--Frank E. Werner Attorney-Yount & Tarolli [57] ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a machine for performing trimming operations upon the front and side edges of a book as the book continues to advance through the machine. The machine includes a front edge trimming table which is reciprocated in a horizontal direction and receives a book from an infeed conveyor as the table moves in the direction of the conveyor. As the table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the table and the front edge of the book is trimmed. The machine further includes a side edge trimming table which is reciprocated in synchronism but substantially out of phase with the front edge trimming table. As the front edge table completes its motion in the direction of the infeed conveyor and as the side edge table is about to move in the same direction, the book having its front edge trimmed is advanced onto the side edge table. As the side edge table continues to move in the direction of the infeed conveyor, the book is clamped to the side edge table and the side edges of the book are trimmed. Toward the end of the forward motion of the side edge table, the book is released to a conveyor which advances it from the machine.

7 Claims, 32 Drawing Figures PATENIEDHAYZZIHYS 3,733,947

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1. An infeed mechanism for a machine having knife means movable through a trimming cycle for performing trimming operations upon a book comprising: a. a surface extending adjacent to the entrance to the machine; b. means having a repetitive cycle of operation for conveying a book along said surface toward the entrance to the machine; c. means having a repetitive cycle of operation for pushing a book from engagement with said conveying means and into the entrance of the machine for trimming by said knife means; d. drive means for driving said means for conveying and said means for pushing at a selected speed; and e. means for adjusting the phase relationship of said means for conveying and said means for pushing the book relative to the trimming cycle of the knife means while maintaining the selected speed, whereby the optimum timing of the movement of a book from said conveying means into the machine for trimming can be obtained.
 2. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for conveying a book along said surface toward said machine comprises: a. an elongated drivinG member extending adjacent said surface and moving substantially towards said machine; and b. a plurality of lugs pivotally attached to said driving member, each of said lugs having an operative position in which the upper portion of each of said lugs extends above said surface for engaging a book adjacent thereto and a withdrawn position in which the upper portion of each of said lugs is pivoted beneath said surface for and disengaging from a book adjacent thereto.
 3. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 2 in which said means for pushing a book from engagement with said conveying means and onto said machine comprises: a. at least one pusher member adapted to engage a book being conveyed along said surface in response to said conveying means; and b. means for cyclically moving said pusher member above said surface and toward said first trimming table to advance a book thereon and for cyclically moving said pusher member beneath said surface and away from said machine to return said pusher member to a position to engage and push the next successive book being conveyed along said surface by said conveying means.
 4. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 1 in which: a. said means for conveying a book along said surface toward said machine includes a drive shaft; b. said means for pushing a book from engagement with said conveying means includes a drive cam coupled to said drive shaft and a cam follower engaging said drive cam for actuating said pushing means; and c. in which said means for adjusting the phase relationship of said conveying means and said pushing means includes gear train means connected between said drive shaft and said conveying means for adjustably selecting the phase relationship therebetween and means for positioning said cam follower relative to said drive cam for adjustably selecting the phase relationship therebetween.
 5. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 4 in which a common linkage is connected to said gear train means for adjustably selecting the phase relationship with said drive shaft and is connected to said cam follower for adjustably selecting the phase relationship with said cam, whereby said common linkage enables the phase relationship of said conveying means and said pushing means to be adjusted simultaneously.
 6. A machine for performing a trimming operation in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising: a. a guide member extending along said surface toward the entrance of the machine, said guide member being adapted to engage one of the side edge portions of a book being conveyed along said surface by said conveying means; and b. means for urging the book toward said guide member as the book is being conveyed along said surface, whereby said guide member enables the book to be aligned with respect to the entrance of the machine.
 7. A machine for performing trimming operations in accordance with claim 6 in which said means for urging the book comprises: a. at least one flexible endless member having a lower reach extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said surface at a distance enabling said flexible endless member to engage the face of the book disposed opposite said surface, said flexible endless member extending at an angle toward said guide member in the direction of the conveying of a book by said conveying means; and b. means for driving the lower reach of said flexible endless member toward the entrance of the machine. 